Drivers Pay More for Potholes

LANSING (WILX)-- The weather has been nothing but problems for road conditions, creating deep holes where there never used to be any. But there's a way you can win that money back this year.

The Michigan Transportation Team's Pothole Pocketbook Contest has begun and they have already been getting in entries. We mentioned the contest last week and the team has already been getting some repair bills that reach into the thousand dollar range.

Pot holes seem to be a growing problem, especially for Michigan. Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association Vice President Lance Binoniemi says, "Michigan drivers spend $80 dollars more a year compared to surrounding states."

The Michigan Transportation team has changed up their annual pothole contest from finding the biggest pothole to finding the biggest bill to help bring awareness to the problem.

"Individuals can pull their invoices from their repairs and take pictures. We will draw once a month for up to $500 to help repair cost," said Binoniemi.

A pothole may sometimes seem small, but it can do a lot of damage to your vehicle. The average Michigan motorist pays $357 dollars a year for unnecessary road condition damages.

"You may have to realign your vehicle now and then. It's occurring more often in Michigan because of our roads. You don't see this many repair costs in other states," said Binoniemi.

The contests awareness is just the first step to hopefully better roads in the future.

"We'll continue to collect invoices from the public. I think it's a good education process for the public to show these accidents are occurring, but education for the lawmakers as well," said Binoniemi.

M-DOT says they are trying to keep up with road repairs and have teams out daily filling in parts of the road where they see the need. Last year M-DOT spent over $1 million dollars repairing roads in Ingham, Clinton, and Eaton counties.